Norfolk County Council has just released their latest update on Norfolk’s infrastructure. The update highlights the A47 corridor and the proposed plans for the improvements announced in the Autumn Statement; the latest on the NDR, progress on the Postwick Hub; and the Better Bus Area.
The report also gives information on the Cycle City Ambition Project, further improvements on the rail networkand the Better Broadband for Norfolk project.
Rail commuters in East Anglia can now buy flexi season tickets on ticket machines across the Greater Anglia network.
The flexi season ticket is a bundle of 8 day passes for a specific journey between two stations to be used in 28 days. The tickets can be used at any time within the 28-day period.
Customers can buy another flexi season ticket within the 28 days if they use up their eight passes.
And now customers can buy them quickly and easily by using Greater Anglia’s self-serve ticket machines, making it quicker and easier to commute at a time convenient to them.
Anyone who needs help using the ticket machine can press the ticket assistance help button on the machine to be connected to ticket office staff in Norwich who will guide the customer on the machine.
Flexi seasons can be bought on any Greater Anglia ticket machine outside of the London oyster area.
These tickets are also still available from the ticket office or to buy online from the Greater Anglia website.
Flexi season tickets must be loaded on to a Smart card, which is more durable than a paper ticket and quicker and easier to use at the ticket gates.
They are cheaper than buying anytime day return tickets on the day of travel and passengers can claim a refund on the dates not used, and they can cancel at any time.
Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial, Customer Services and Train Presentation Director, said: “The pandemic has seen many people’s travel patterns change. We know our customers are spending part of their working week in the office and at home, and the flexi season helps them save money on their commute.
“Since its launch last summer, the flexi season ticket has been incredibly popular with our customers and we’re pleased they can now buy it from our ticket machines, which are quick and easy to use.”
Greg is Head Coach of British Para Table Tennis and a performance coach. He believes that the best performers rely on their gut when it matters, whether that’s on a track, field or in business. But this only works if you know yourself!
They discuss how you can learn to focus on yourself, and understand what makes you tick, and how knowing your strengths, triggers and blind spots will help you perform under pressure, and nurture positive personal relationships.
Greg deep dives into the process of performing under pressure – a tactical approach, physical preparation, and how we can’t ignore how we operate under stress, as this can negate any technical ability.
They also look at constraint based learning; how to adapt efficiently to cope with context; and how to harness positive and empowering relationships, particularly at work.
Greg lets us in on what it really takes to ‘make it’ at Olympic-level sport, and what he has learnt from the inspiring journeys of the Paralympic athletes he has worked with. He also discusses his work in trying to dispel the stigma behind the Paralympics, and how we can all learn from what it really takes for coaches to train the top level.
Greater Anglia is advising people to only travel if absolutely necessary and expect severe disruption as national rail strikes – should they go ahead – are set to heavily reduce train services next week
The RMT union is holding three 24-hour strikes on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June, with members of the train drivers union ASLEF also striking on Thursday 23 June – affecting all Greater Anglia services.
The industrial action includes Network Rail signallers who are members of the RMT union.
If the strikes go ahead, the train company will not be running any services on its regional and branch lines, while a very limited service will operate on some routes to and from London Liverpool Street for part of the day.
Services running will only operate from 7.30am, with the last trains finishing their journeys by 6.30pm. The full strike day timetables should be available on the Greater Anglia website from Friday 17 June.
Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on the day before or up to two days after their original travel date, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer.
There will be no services running on the following routes on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June:
Between Norwich and Cambridge/Stansted Airport, Sheringham, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth
Between Ipswich and Cambridge, Peterborough, Felixstowe and Lowestoft
Between Marks Tey and Sudbury
All other branch lines: Hertford East to Broxbourne, Braintree to Witham, Southminster to Wickford, Harwich Town to Manningtree, Clacton/Walton-on-the-Naze to Colchester, Colchester Town to Colchester, Meridian Water to Stratford.
A very limited and much reduced service – with fewer trains running and so fewer seats available – will run starting at 7.30am and finishing at 6.30pm on the following routes:
Norwich to London Liverpool Street intercity service – one train an hour, with first and last trains from Norwich to Liverpool Street at 08.00 and 16.00, and first and last trains from Liverpool Street to Norwich at 08.30 and 16.30.
Colchester to London Liverpool Street stopping service – one stopping train an hour plus one intercity service an hour, with the first and last stopping services from Colchester to London Liverpool Street at 07.30 and 16.25 and from London Liverpool Street to Colchester at 08.00 and 17.00.
Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street – two trains an hour with first and last trains from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street at 07.30 and 17.13, and from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria at 07.47 and 17.30.
Stansted Express Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street – two trains an hour (reducing to one train an hour on Thursday 23 June, when train drivers are also on strike), with first and last trains from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street at 07.42 and 17.12 and from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport at 08.10 and 17.40
Cambridge to London Liverpool Street – one train an hour with some possible further alterations on Thursday 23 June, when train drivers are also on strike, with the first trains from Cambridge to London Liverpool Street at 08.20 and 16.20 and from Cambridge North to London Liverpool Street at 09.13 and 16.13. First and last trains from Liverpool Street to Cambridge/Cambridge North at 08.25 and 16.25/15.25.
The 24-hour strikes will also have a knock-on effect on services on days immediately before and after the days when industrial action is taking place, so customers are advised to check before they travel on Monday 20, Wednesday 22, Friday 24 and Sunday 26 June.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “Please only travel if it’s absolutely necessary on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday when strikes are due to take place.
“If you do travel, you should expect severe disruption, so plan ahead and make alternative arrangements to travel if you can. Please also check travel times for any journeys planned for the days before and after any strike action.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers by this industrial action.”
More information about how industrial action will affect rail journeys and how to apply for ticket changes or refunds are available on the Greater Anglia website.
Businesses, residents and visitors are being invited to have their say on the future of Downham Market. An initial three-week consultation has been launched today, to get some general views about Downham Market and also to gather some specific ideas about future uses of the historic Town Hall. Opportunities Downham Market will be the route for consultation, engagement and communications around plans, investment and potential improvements for the town. Opportunities Downham Market hopes to encompass various funding programmes and schemes that could benefit the town. These include, but are not limited to, the Welcome Back Fund, the Community Renewal Fund/UK Prosperity Fund and the Levelling-up Fund. Opportunities Downham Market will bring together various partners, including the town, borough and county councils, business representatives, health representatives, and young people. Cllr Jenny Groom, Mayor of Downham Market, said: “I am delighted to say that we have been working in conjunction with the borough council and other partners to give the people and businesses of Downham Market a chance to have their say on the way Downham Market develops in the future, particularly in response to the impact of Covid-19. “Today, we launch our first consultation with business residents and visitors to give everyone a chance to put their ideas forward.” To take part in the consultation visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QRVSQLS. The survey closes at midnight on 28 May. Cllr Groom continued “It has been so refreshing to work with the borough council and we hope to come up with some great initiatives and ideas that will not only attract funding into the area, but will benefit Downham Market and its economy.” A Downham Opportunities Partnership is being established, to review feedback from the consultation and to start to pull together plans for the future development of Downham Market as a place to live, work or visit and of course invest. The results from this survey will support the development of a strategic plan for Downham Market, to address and reverse the long-term impacts of Covid-19, particularly where they relate to the high street and town centre. A website is being developed to ensure ongoing engagement with anyone who wishes to be involved in shaping the future of the town. The initial phase of consultation is being funded through the government’s Welcome Back Fund. Cllr Jenny Groom concluded, “We really want to hear from people, to see what they think of the town, what the positives are and where the areas for improvement might be. There are lots of opportunities to explore as we look for ways to encourage people back to the town centre, to capitalise on the opportunities presented by people who are now home-working rather than commuting, and of course to develop our tourism offer as more people are likely to be holidaying in this country for a while. We also have a fabulous, historic town hall, which is currently underused. We want to hear people’s ideas for how that valuable asset can be put to better use. We need to have plans ready so that we can secure any funding that might be available.”
We are proud to have
supported Pride Month this year with a Rainbow Bake, raising over £220 for The
LGBTQ+ Project – a local charity providing vital support across Norfolk and
Waveney.
The event brought
together team members from across Leading and other businesses located in
Lawrence House, with colleagues baking, buying, and donating to raise funds and
awareness. The bake sale was not only a celebration of Pride, but a show of
solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and the important work of The LGBTQ+
Project.
The event also included
a “Best Decorated Bake” competition, which showcased the creativity and
enthusiasm of the team — with our team member Rebeckah taking home the title
for her vibrant, rainbow-themed creation!
The LGBTQ+ Project
offers one-to-one support, drop-in groups, and mental health services to over
750 people every year, with 75% reporting improved mental health through their
programmes. The money raised will go directly toward sustaining these essential
services within the local community.
We’re proud to support a charity doing such
meaningful work locally. Our Pride Bake Sale was a small but joyful way for us
to celebrate inclusivity while giving back to the community we’re part of!
We’re
Here When You’re Ready
At Leading, an
experienced insolvency and business restructuring firm, we believe in having
early, honest conversations — because the sooner we talk, the more options we
can explore together.
If your business is
experiencing financial stress, or you’re supporting a client who is, we’re here
to help. We offer confidential, no-obligation guidance tailored to each
situation.
We’re happy to speak
directly with business owners, or work in partnership with accountants, HR
professionals, or other advisers.
You can contact our friendly and experienced
team on 01603 552028 or email us at mail@leading.uk.com.
The Generation Park Norwich team are holding a series of events as part of the second round of public consultation.
The latest proposals, featuring a display of models illustrating the scheme, will be on display at the King’s Centre, King Street, Norwich, on Friday, May 8th from (2pm – 7pm) and Saturday, May 9th (9am – 1pm). The public will be invited to offer comments on the proposals.
The following week a public meeting will be held for residents of Trowse, focusing on transport. The meeting will be held at The White Horse, Trowse, on Friday, May 15th from 4pm – 8pm.
There will then be another opportunity to see models of the proposed scheme on display in the Atrium at The Forum in Norwich from Tuesday, June 9th to Thursday, June 11th (9am – 6pm daily).
These meetings and the subsequent display at The Forum follow the first public consultation, staged in January this year.
Subject to planning permission, the proposed riverside development, adjacent to Crown Point rail depot, would transform the derelict 30-acre Utilities Site into a new amenity for Norwich and reflect a modern revival of the heritage of the brownfield site.
Generation Park Norwich would feature an efficient green Community Energy Centre producing electricity for major power users in the city and for the National Grid, along with more affordable and reliable heat for local businesses and houses via a District Heating network.
The scheme would create 11 acres of parkland, new cycle routes and walkways on the banks of the rivers Wensum and Yare, plus highly energy-efficient houses and student residences.
In keeping with the low carbon, forward-looking, spirit of the proposal an energy research and development centre and education centre would complete a remarkable new river gateway for the city.
Professor Trevor Davies, of Generation Park Norwich, said: “Community engagement is key to this project as it is very much a development that will serve the local community and at the same time create a new hub with its mix of leisure facilities, housing, education and research.
“The feedback we get from the community is a vital part of the process and we look forward to sharing our proposals.
“For anyone unable to make the consultation, the updated proposals will be posted on the Generation Park Norwich website, where people can also register for news alerts”.
Summary: AI is taking the world by storm and Alix Rübsaam is here to show us how to harness algorithms for good and make them work for your business, and improve your life!
Tech expert Alix Rübsaam explains how to make algorithms work for you not against you, in life and business.
Whether it’s putting adverts into your Facebook feed for items you recently Google searched, or helping to filter out applicants for a job you’re advertising, based on the key words in their CV, algorithms are everywhere. They affect us all, sometimes even when we least expect it! The trick is to arm yourself with knowledge; learn more about how they work, why they can be forces for good, not just bad, and how they can be good for business.
Alix is Head of Curriculum and Expertise at Singularity Education Group, and lets us in on how brand reputation can easily be harmed by bad algorithms. She shares how businesses need to look for blind spots within the system and consider all variables, case studying recruitment in particular.
They discuss Data Feminism; the impact of GDPR legislation on marketing and sales; why complacency with tech evolution is dangerous; and the importance of keeping a human eye on the process of developing new AI.
Alix is a great example of how curiosity can get you a long way – and how that’s enough to get you where you want to be. Go where the friction is; that’s where the interesting things are happening.
Her insight into the future of AI and her predications for a Ready Player One style world are fascinating. Her passions and career have been diverse, and she blasts onto the podcast with the force of the Terminator itself! It’s not to be missed.
For show notes, how to get in touch with the podcast team and to listen to the podcast, click below.
Rail passengers using Norwich station are to benefit from improvements as Abellio Greater Anglia announces the start of a programme of works to redesign the concourse.
The works will see the relocation of the automatic ticket gates to create easier access to the toilet facilities, the installation of a new First Class lounge, a refurbished waiting room on platform 6, improved cycle parking and the introduction of Abellio Greater Anglia’s cycle hire scheme ‘Bike and Go’.
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said” Norwich station is the gateway to both business and leisure visitors and it is essential that Norwich creates the right impression to its visitors. The Chamber has been looking for these improvements for a number so years and so we very much welcome the investment in this refurbishment and hope that it can be completed swiftly.”
The first phase, now underway, will see the relocation of the ticket barriers and removal of the central cash points and is expected to take four weeks to complete.
Work will also commence during this time to extend the existing cycle area to accommodate an additional 242 covered, free cycle parking spaces and the company’s ‘Bike and Go’ cycle hire scheme will be installed. Ten high quality cycles will be available for hire for just £3.80 per day.
During the summer months, Abellio Greater Anglia’s Customer Services Team will be relocated to a new, more centrally-located customer service office on the station concourse will which will also feature new retail units and cash machines, subject to planning approval.
Towards the end of the year the existing waiting room on platform 6 will be refurbished and a new First Class Lounge will be created alongside platform 1 (in the old Customer Services Office). The customer toilet facilities will be completely refurbished and will be accessible to everyone without the need to pass through the ticket barriers.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, James Reeve,said: “This is an exciting project for the station which will deliver a much-improved layout of the station concourse, refurbished waiting rooms and toilet facilities and improved cycle storage. Investing in upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to Abellio Greater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to our customers.
“We will be doing all we can to progress the works as quickly as possible and to minimise any inconvenience to our customers while these improvements are carried out.
“We are grateful to our customers for their co-operation and patience in the meantime.”
Over 70 Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Chamber Members joined together on a sunny May morning at the Knights Hill Hotel for a delicious breakfast and some fantastic networking.
Our host for the morning Heather Garrod, took the delegates through the morning, challenging them to make at least one appointment in the diary with a prospective client. It was then onto a themed ice breaker to get all the delegates thinking and discussing which countries imported which good the most. There was a great atmosphere from this and it continued through breakfast and into our safari move.
Our speaker for the morning Alastair McFarlane followed on from breakfast, he gave a delegates an insight into how much AB Ports are doing across the country and in the local area and the importance of the ports. He told delegates how Kings Lynn port is a major grain exporter supporting agriculture in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire and it contributes £40 million to the local economy every year. A recent refurbishment has meant that there are also now modern laboratory facilities on site for testing of a wide range of products.
Delegates found the talk very interesting and had lots of questions for Alastair during the Q&A. The morning then ended with some free networking giving the delegates a little bit more time to get that all important meeting in.
Our next event in this area is a Hog Roast and Quiz Night on Wednesday 22 July, for more details click here
Rail services will be extremely limited this Saturday with last trains leaving London by 5.30pm and disruption continuing into Sunday due to a third day of strikes.
Greater Anglia is asking people to only travel if absolutely necessary and reminding them that there will be no trains – or rail replacement buses – back to the region in the evening.
The company will be running a heavily reduced timetable with no trains on regional or branch lines.
A skeleton service with far fewer trains and seats than normal will operate on some routes to and from London Liverpool Street, from 7.30am on Saturday, with last trains leaving London between 3.25pm and 5.30pm.
It is possible that some stations may have to be closed at very short notice due to a lack of staff – in which case trains would not be able to call at them and there would be no rail replacement bus service to them either.
Passengers should expect severe disruption, plan their journeys in advance and make alternative plans where possible – especially if they are going to concerts and festivals across the region this weekend including Red Hot Chili Peppers at the London Stadium, Mick Jagger at Hyde Park and Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, disruption from the 24-hour strike will have a knock-on effect with first trains starting later than usual, between just before 7am to 7.30am.
Full service will not be restored until early afternoon. All normal Sunday evening services should run as normal.
Timetables for this weekend are now available on the Greater Anglia website.
Train drivers’ union ASLEF has called another 24-hour strike among Greater Anglia train drivers for Saturday 2 July.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “Please only travel if it’s absolutely necessary on Saturday when strikes are due to take place.
“If you do travel, you should expect severe disruption, so plan ahead and make alternative travel arrangements if you can.
“We will not be running any of our usual evening services, so if you’re going out to a festival, concert or event, please make alternative arrangements.
“We’re not replacing services cancelled by strike action with buses – after the last trains have departed there will be nothing available until Sunday morning, when services will be starting later as the effect of the strike ripples through to the next day.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers by this industrial action.
“Work is continuing to try to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.”
The RMT industrial action on Saturday includes Network Rail signal and maintenance teams as well as Greater Anglia’s conductors, train cleaners, catering and station staff.
Anyone who has pre-booked tickets to travel on strike days can change them, use them to travel on the day before or up to two days after their original travel date, or apply for a refund by going back to their original retailer.
Passenger assistance will be available at all stations which are staffed. Greater Anglia will provide alternative transport for people needing passenger assistance from stations which are unstaffed but still served by trains.
There will be no alternative transport from stations where no trains are running on Saturday. Travellers needing passenger assistance are strongly advised to contact Greater Anglia’s passenger assist service if travel is absolutely necessary on strike days.
More information about how industrial action will affect rail journeys and how to apply for ticket changes or refunds are available on the Greater Anglia website.
There will be no services running on the following routes on Saturday 25 June:
Between Norwich and Cambridge/Stansted Airport, Sheringham, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth
Between Ipswich and Cambridge, Peterborough, Felixstowe and Lowestoft
Between Marks Tey and Sudbury
All other branch lines: Hertford East to Broxbourne, Braintree to Witham, Southminster to Wickford, Harwich Town to Manningtree, Clacton/Walton-on-the-Naze to Colchester, Colchester Town to Colchester, Meridian Water to Stratford.
A very limited and much reduced service – with fewer trains running and so fewer seats available – will run starting at 7.30am and finishing at 6.30pm on the following routes:
Norwich to London Liverpool Street intercity service – one train an hour, with first and last trains from Norwich to Liverpool Street at 08.00 and 16.00, and first and last trains from Liverpool Street to Norwich at 08.30 and 16.30.
Colchester to London Liverpool Street stopping service – one stopping train an hour plus one intercity service an hour, with the first and last stopping services from Colchester to London Liverpool Street at 07.30 and 16.25 and from London Liverpool Street to Colchester at 08.00 and 17.00.
Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street – two trains an hour with first and last trains from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street at 07.30 and 17.13, and from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria at 07.47 and 17.30.
Stansted Express Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street – two trains an hour, with first and last trains from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street at 07.42 and 17.12 and from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport at 08.10 and 17.40
Cambridge to London Liverpool Street with the first trains from Cambridge to London Liverpool Street at 08.20 and 16.20 and from Cambridge North to London Liverpool Street at 09.13 and 16.13. First and last trains from Liverpool Street to Cambridge/Cambridge North at 08.25 and 16.25/15.25.
The company will make an announcement about which services will run on Saturday 2 July as soon as plans for that day are complete and those details are available.
The Chamber Awards is one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious business award programmes and as a member of an Accredited Chamber of Commerce you can enter for free! Each year, from Aberdeen to Norwich and King’s Lynn to Plymouth, organisations of all sizes and from all sectors compete for the coveted titles and the £10,000 cash prize on offer.
See what entering the Chamber Awards did for Titania Ltd, a security and compliance software development company based in Worcester who won last year’s Small Business of the Year award:
‘The entry process for the Chamber Awards really makes you think about the challenges and triumphs that your company has faced. It is a great feeling to see all that we have achieved down on paper and even better to have it read and appreciated by others. Writing the application really helped to solidify ideas around where the company has been and where it is going, our growth plans for the future and where we are aiming to be. This is something that can often get lost during the day to day bustle of running a fast growing SME.’ Ruth Inglis, Sales & Marketing Manager, Titania Ltd
Larkfleet Group, a sustainable house builder and sustainable energy projects developer based in Lincolnshire, entered the Sustainability award in 2014:
‘Entering the Chamber Awards helped us as a business to demonstrate our successes and reaffirm our strengths. This alone was a worthwhile exercise as it is rewarding to remember how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved as a business.’ Helen Jones, Group Marketing Director, Larkfleet Group
O’Brien Contractors, a family run construction business based in Coventry, entered the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2013:
‘We would encourage others to enter the Chamber Awards, the entry process was straightforward, with a good balance of questions that made sense and were easy to understand. When entering make sure you research your company as if you don’t know anything about it. Speak to your team and customers and ask them what they think makes your organisation different, it’s not always what you think.” Rebecca Gozdecki, Marketing Manager, O’Brien Contractors
The Chamber Awards are open for entry until Friday 26th June. For information about the categories and to enter visit www.chamberawards.co.uk